Jack Wilmot

Oftentimes, the greatest satisfaction in life comes from helping others. It's in the seemingly small things where we find lifelong treasures. Jack Wilmot is the embodiment of those ideals. He pours out his life everyday for those he loves and even those he's never met.

In his job as the North Apollo Chief of Police, Mr. Wilmot said he sees the good and bad of people. But even when dealing with people breaking the law, he's never judgmental. His goal at those times is to do whatever he can to set people back on the right path and help them stay out of trouble. Jack has served in the North Apollo Police Department for 27 years with 23 of those as the chief.

In addition to the full time schedule he has at the Police Department, Jack puts in a full 40 hour week at the Steel Mill as well. With 80 hours of work each week, how did he manage to have any time for his wife and three boys, when they were young? No matter how much he was working he "always found time for family." It was important to him to be involved with his children when they were growing up, so if that meant taking some days off work to coach their teams or watch a game, that's what he did.

Jack also believes that his consuming work schedule might have had something to do with the success of his 33 year marriage. Jokingly he quipped, "The secret to a happy marriage is never see each other." But honestly he said that the time he and his wife can spend together is so valuable that they don't want to waste it arguing.

As a mentor in the Chief's of Police Association, Mr. Wilmot's accumulated expertise in Community Oriented Policing, Police Administration, Leadership, and Motivation is a valuable asset to other chiefs who call asking him for advice. This is just one of the ways he offers himself to the community. He is also the Supervisor for Kiski Township as well as the charter president of the Kiski Township Lions Club.

Aside from these positions and his involvement in the VFW and the American Legion, Jack's generosity takes a personal and intimate turn. Throughout the year, he looks for families who need a little extra help, or who are having a rough time, and then at Christmas, he and his wife get gifts for them. And every year, he finds a kid who doesn't have a bike and gets one for him/her. He might say, "Oh, it's nothing," but to the little boy who craved a bike this year, Christmas was unforgettable. "I was always raised that way…to help people."

Recently, Jack was recognized and honored for his selfless devotion and received two service awards. On April 15, 2003, he received the HAVIN award for his interest and participation in helping abuse victims. HAVIN stands for Helping Abuse Victims In Need. HAVIN's mission is "to increase public awareness of the incidence and implications of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to provide direct service to those victims," (from the HAVIN, Inc. program at the annual dinner 4-15-03). The organization chooses a State Police officer and a local police officer yearly to recognize their support. This year there were four law enforcement officer nominees: Joshua Abernathy, John Atherton, Sgt. William Young, Chief Jack Wilmot. Sgt. William Young was selected as the State Police winner this year, and Chief Wilmot of course received the local police award.

Then on April 30, 2003, Jack was awarded the Child Advocacy Award by the Multidisciplinary Child Protection Team of Armstrong County Children, Youth, and Family Services. He was nominated by Ronald and Donna Frain of North Apollo. Throughout his years with the North Apollo PD, he has invested into and deeply affected the lives of many youth. In fact, one young man that he helped steer into the military supported Chief Wilmot's recommendation for the award. Here is an excerpt from a letter that Private Anthony Corso wrote to the Child Protection Team endorsing Chief Wilmot for this honor.

"Just a few days before my 18th birthday, I got into trouble in his boro…Mr. Wilmot believes in giving second chances. If he wouldn't have given me a second chance to prove everyone wrong, I would just be another bad kid. Without his help, I would not be in the United States Army today…He is the perfect person for the award."

Jack expressed the fulfillment he gets out of dedicating his life to others. He doesn't praise himself or consider the great things he's accomplished, but to those he's blessed and to the Alle-Kiski Valley, he is one of life's precious treasures.